Traffic-signal for automobiles.



C. M. KEENAN. TRAFFIC SIGNAL Fon AUTOMOBILES. l

AFPLIcATIoII FILED MAY I4. IsIa.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

WITHE'SISES.' MW @AM UNITED VSTATES PATENT onirica.

CHRISTOPHER KEENAN,OF DETROIT, llllIICHICiullW.1 y

T0 all 207mm, it may concern:

Be it known `that I, CHRISTOPHER M. KEE- NAN, a citizen .of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trafiic-Signals for Auto- 1nobiles,`and declare the following to be a full, clear, 'and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying. drawings, whichl form a part of this specification. l

This invention relates to traHic-signals for automobiles and its object is at device by means of which the intended movement of the vehicle-may be made known-and is to be mounted upon the side thereof whereby it may be observed from either the front or the rear of the vehicle, the arrangement ofA the' device being such that 'a similarfsignal or vindication is simultaneously broughtv to view upon 4both the front and back of the device. 1

tively vinexpensive device for the purpose which is reliable and efficient in use and is i end 1 adapted to be Vmounted upon the side of the vehicle by means of a bracket 2 and is provided upon opposite sides thereof with similar slots 3 and 4. The casing 1 has a cover 5 and the cover 5 and the closed of the casing 1 are adapted to rotatably support a shaft 7. Secured to the shaft 7 in such manner as to i be rotatable therewith is an inner cylindrical casing y8 bearing a duplicate series of wordssuch as stop, cross, turn,

" back etc., and these Words are so placed upon the inner cylinder that a similar Word is simultaneously exposed to vlew 1n both A further object is a simple and compara TRAFFIC-SIGNAL FOR A'TOMOBILE-S.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug.' 31, 1915 Application niet! May 14, 1913. Serial No. 767,553.

in the front and the rear of the vehicle may y be apprised of its intended movementl The inner cylinder v8 may either be formed of translucent or transparent material or that portion of the cylinder bearing the words may besoformed and the words' may be either painted upon the transparent or translucent material or such material may becovered with an opaque paint or the like and the letters formed therein by a cutting away of such opaque material. g l

Thel inner casing 8 hasvan open end adjacent the cover for the outr casing' 'as is shown in Fig. 2 and mounted upon the cover '5 for the outer casing which is stationary and extending into'thecasing 8 is an electric light bulb which may be supplied with current in any well known manner and Ywhlclr-ls to be used at night 1n order that the various words may be f properly displayed. Thedevice should be of such size that the words may be made sufliciently large to be seen a considerable distance from the vehicle.

The shaft 7 upon which the inner cylinder' is mounted extends outwardly from the device a sufficient distance to beA within ready reach of the operator and is provided with a hand wheel 9 -by means of which it may be Amanually operated.

Upon the shaft 7- and contiguousto the stationary coser 5 of the casing 1 is a ratchet wheel 10, the teeth of which are engaged by a spring pressed plunger 11 mounted upon the stationary cover 5, the teeth of the ratchet being so positioned that the plunger 11 when in engagement therewith holds the innericylinder from accidental rotation but isyieldable whereby the cylinder may be readily rotated by the hand-wheel.

-The device is preferably mounted upon the side of .the vehicle near the seat so'that the hand wheel 9 may be readily reached' 100 within saidprirst named casing having an.

open end adjacent the open end of the outer casing and also bearing a multiple series of .-words or signals adapted to indicate the in- 2. In a device `of the character described, -in combination, a casing provided with a display' opening upon the front and rear sidesv thereof, said casing having a closed and an open end, a shaft extending centrally j therethrough and extending -through an aperture provided in the closed end,a cover for. the open end also provided Withan aperture through which said `shaft extends, a second casing within said first named casin having an open end adjacent the open en .displayed through each slot 1n the outer casof the outer casing, said inner casing being fixed to the shaft andl rotatable therewith,

and also bearing a multiple series of words or signals adapted to indicate the intended movement of the vehicle, a like word or signal in eachl series kbeing simultaneously v ing, said vWords or signals being placed or v formed on translucent or transparent material, illuminatin means supported uponthe said cover for t e outer casing and extend- .ing into Athe open end of the inner casing,

'and .means .for rotating said shaft.

3; In a device `of the character described,

' in combination, a casing provided with a display opening atthe frontland realt-sides thereof, said casing having a closed and an open end, a detachable cover for said open end, .a second casing rotatably mounted within .said-first named casing having an openend adjacent the open end of the outer casing and also bearing a multiple series of words or signals adapted to indicate the intended movement of the vehicle, a' like word or slgnal 1n each series being simultaneously displayed through each display opening in the outer casing, said words or signals being placed or formed on transparent or translucent material, illuminating means supported upon the said cover for the outer casing and extending into the open end of the inner casing, means for rotating said inner casing, and a bracket secured to the outer casing by means of which thedevice may be supported upon a vehicle and whereby said outer casin is held from rotation.

. 4. In a evice of the character described, in combination, acasing provided with display openings'at the Afront 'and rear sides thereof respectively, said casing having a closed and anopen-end, a detachable cover for said open end, a shaft extending through said casing and cover, a second casing mounted within the said firsty named casi-ng secured to said shaft and-having an open end adjacent the open end of the outer casing, said inner casing also bearing a multiple series of words or signals adapted to indicate the intended movement of the vehicle, a like word or signal in each series being simultaneouslyr` displayed through each display opening in the outer casing, said words or signals being placed or formed on translucent or transparent material, an electric light supported upon the said cover for the outer casing vand extending into the open end of the inner casing, means for rotating said shaft and means for yieldably holding the said shaft in position to display either ofthe words or signals.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

. o CHRISTOPHER M. KEENAN.' f Witnesses:

RIcHAnn ALSPAS, CHARLES E. WISNER. 

